- average wait for an Engineer Certificate of Eligibility (permits granted in June 2026)
- 51 days
- single-entry visa fee at the embassy since 1 July 2026, about $94
- ¥15,000
- people holding the Engineer / Humanities / International Services status in June 2026
- 516,184
On this page
A Japan work visa is not one visa but a family of residence statuses, each tied to a type of job. For most degree holders it means the Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services status, and the route is always the same: a job offer, a Certificate of Eligibility filed by the employer in Japan, then a visa at your local embassy. Count two to four months from signed offer to landing. Fees changed sharply in 2026, so every figure below is dated.
Japan work visa types: which status matches your job
Japanese immigration law lists 17 statuses that allow work, from Professor and Journalist to Nursing Care. In practice, five of them cover almost every foreign hire. At the end of June 2026, Japan had a record 4,281,026 foreign residents, of whom 516,184 held the Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services status and 444,256 the Specified Skilled Worker status, according to the Immigration Services Agency (ISA).
| Status | Typical jobs | Core requirement | Period of stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services | Software and mechanical engineers, marketing, finance, design, translators, language teachers at private schools | Related university degree or 10 years of experience | 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months |
| Intra-company Transferee | Staff sent to the Japan office of their current employer | 1 continuous year in the overseas office | 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months |
| Skilled Labor | Chefs of foreign cuisine, sports coaches, pilots, sommeliers | Long documented experience in the trade | 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months |
| Specified Skilled Worker (i) and (ii) | Care work, construction, manufacturing, farming, hospitality | Skills test and Japanese test for the sector | (i) 5 years in total, (ii) renewable without limit |
| Highly Skilled Professional | Researchers, senior engineers, executives | 70 points on the official grid | 5 years, then indefinite under (ii) |
Three other routes allow work without being classic work statuses. The working holiday visa lets young citizens of partner countries (the UK, Canada, Australia and most of the EU, but not the United States) work for up to a year without a sponsor. The digital nomad visa covers remote work for a foreign employer for six months. And residents with a spouse, long-term or permanent status can take any job. If you are not sure which family you belong to, start with our overview of Japan visas.
Japan Engineer visa: Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services
This is the status people mean when they say Japan engineer visa, although it reaches far beyond engineering. It covers work that needs knowledge in natural sciences (IT, mechanical or civil engineering), in humanities (law, economics, marketing, accounting, HR) or work built on a foreign culture, which the law calls International Services (translation, interpreting, language teaching in companies, PR, overseas trade, fashion or interior design). The number of holders rose by about 8.5% in the first half of 2026.
Degree or years of experience
For engineering and humanities work you need one of three things: a university degree related to the job, a diploma from a Japanese professional training college (senmon gakko), or 10 years of experience, in which the years spent studying the subject count. A recognised IT examination can replace the degree for IT roles. For International Services the rule is 3 years of experience in related work, with one useful exception: a university graduate hired for translation, interpreting or language teaching does not need the 3 years.
Immigration judges the link between degree and job flexibly for a university degree, foreign universities included, and strictly for a professional college diploma. A foreign vocational diploma that is not at university level does not qualify. Experience gained in Japan as a technical intern or a Specified Skilled Worker is not counted either.
The language proof introduced in April 2026
Since 15 April 2026, when the employer is a small or recent company (categories 3 and 4, explained below) and the job relies mostly on language, such as translation, interpreting or front desk work, the file must include proof of language ability at CEFR B2 level. JLPT N2 or a degree from a Japanese university are the examples given by the ISA. The proof is not asked again at renewal if your duties have not changed. A teaching job at an eikaiwa school falls under this status too, which we cover in our guide to teaching English in Japan.
Intra-company Transferee, Skilled Labor and Specified Skilled Worker visas
Intra-company Transferee: moving with your current employer
If your company has a branch, subsidiary or parent in Japan, it can transfer you for a fixed period to do the same kind of work as the Engineer / Humanities status. The condition is at least 1 continuous year in that work at the overseas office just before the transfer, and pay equal to a Japanese colleague. The ordinance sets no degree requirement for this status, which makes it the standard route for experienced staff without a bachelor's degree. Two limits apply: you work for the entity named in the application, and because the transfer is meant to be temporary, immigration examines stays that go beyond five years more closely.
Skilled Labor: chefs, coaches, pilots and craft trades
Skilled Labor covers trades learned through practice: cooks of foreign cuisine, sports trainers, aircraft pilots, sommeliers, animal trainers, workers in precious metals or foreign-style construction. The experience required depends on the trade. It is 10 years for foreign-style construction (5 under a senior worker) and commonly 10 years for chefs, with shorter periods for some cuisines under bilateral agreements, so check the ISA page for your trade before applying. Expect a slow file: the average Certificate of Eligibility for Skilled Labor took 97 days in June 2026, almost twice the Engineer average, because every year of experience has to be proven with employer certificates.
Specified Skilled Worker (SSW): sector jobs with a test
SSW was created for sectors short of labour. SSW (i) covers 19 sectors, requires a skills test and a Japanese test, is capped at 5 years in total and does not allow family to join. SSW (ii) covers 11 sectors, is renewable without limit and allows a spouse and children. One 2026 change matters if you were aiming at restaurants: the food service quota is full and Certificate of Eligibility applications received from 13 April 2026 are refused in principle. From 1 April 2027, the old Technical Intern Training programme is replaced by a new status called Ikusei Shuro, designed to lead into SSW.
Highly Skilled Professional visa, J-Skip and J-Find in brief
The Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) status is an upgrade rather than a separate door. You qualify with 70 points on a grid that scores degree, years of experience, annual salary, age and Japanese ability, and the technical and management categories require an income of at least ¥3 million a year (about $18,800). The rewards are a five-year stay from day one, a spouse who can work full time, and a fast track to permanent residency in 3 years, or 1 year with 80 points.
| Route | Who qualifies | Income or funds |
|---|---|---|
| HSP points system | 70 points or more on the ISA grid | From ¥3 million a year ($18,800) |
| J-Skip, research or technical | Master's degree or 10 years of experience, no points count | ¥20 million a year ($125,000) |
| J-Skip, management | 5 years of management experience | ¥40 million a year ($250,000) |
| J-Find, job search | Graduate within the last 5 years of a university ranked in the top 100 of two of the three main world rankings | ¥200,000 in savings ($1,250), stay of up to 2 years |
The J-Skip and J-Find thresholds are those published by the ISA in September 2025. If you run your own company instead, note that the Business Manager status was tightened on 16 October 2025: the minimum capital went from ¥5 million to ¥30 million (about $188,000) and new entries fell by around 80% in the first half of 2026.
Japan work visa requirements: sponsor, salary and what gets refused
Whatever the status, immigration checks the same three things: you (degree or experience), the job (does it really need that degree) and the employer (is the business real and stable). You cannot apply alone, since a contract with an organisation in Japan is the base of the file. That contract can be an employment contract, or a service or commission agreement as long as the relationship with named organisations is continuous.
The word sponsor is misleading, though. In Japan the status is attached to an activity, not to one employer. The company files your first application, but it does not own your visa, and you can change employer later without its consent. That is a real difference from the US H-1B system.
Employer categories 1 to 4
The ISA sorts employers into four categories, and the paperwork grows as you go down the list. Category 1 is listed companies and public bodies. Category 2 is firms that withheld at least ¥10 million in income tax from salaries the previous year. Category 3 is other companies that filed their withholding summary, and category 4 is everyone else, typically start-ups in their first year. Categories 1 and 2 file a handful of pages. Categories 3 and 4 add the company registry extract, financial statements or a business plan, a detailed job description and, since April 2026, a signed declaration from the company representative.
Why work visa applications are refused
Refusals rarely come from the applicant's profile alone. The ISA guidance revised in April 2026 gives the patterns. A job advertised as needing no experience, or made up mainly of service, shop floor or factory tasks, is outside the status even if the title says engineer. Training on the job is accepted at the start, but not if it fills most of the period of stay. For agency (dispatch) contracts, the client company must be known when you apply. Finally, Japanese documents older than 3 months are rejected and every foreign document needs a Japanese translation.
How to apply for a Japan work visa: the Certificate of Eligibility step by step
The Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is the heart of the process. It is issued by the immigration bureau in Japan, not by the embassy, and proves in advance that you meet the conditions of the status. Embassies do not accept a work visa application without it.
- Get a written offer. A full contract is not required at this stage. The ISA accepts a contract that takes effect once the status is granted, or at minimum a notice of working conditions stating duties, salary and duration.
- Send your documents to the employer. Passport copy, a 4 x 3 cm photo, CV, degree certificate and, if you rely on experience, certificates from past employers covering every year claimed.
- The employer files the COE application at the regional immigration bureau covering its office, on paper or through the online system. There is no government fee for the COE itself.
- Wait for the COE. The official standard is 1 to 3 months. Since 2023 it can be issued as a PDF by email, which the employer forwards to you. A lost COE is not reissued, the employer has to apply again.
- Apply for the visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate for your place of residence, with your passport, the visa form, a photo and the COE. Many consulates return the passport in about a week, but check the times posted by yours.
- Enter Japan within 3 months of the COE issue date. After that it expires and the process restarts.
- Collect your residence card at the airport (Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu and other major airports issue it on the spot), then register your address at the city or ward office within 14 days of moving in.
Already in Japan as a student? You skip the COE and file a change of status at the immigration bureau instead, with the same supporting documents. On a working holiday, do not count on it: several embassies state that this status cannot be changed in Japan, immigration decides case by case, and many participants leave and come back with a COE. Coming as a temporary visitor to look for work and switching inside Japan is in principle not possible, as explained on our page about the Japan tourist visa and entry rules. For the rest of the relocation, from renting an apartment in Japan to shipping, follow our guide on how to move to Japan.
Japan work visa processing time in 2026
Most guides repeat the official range of 1 to 3 months. The ISA also publishes the real average each month, by status, counted from the day the application is received. The figures below are for permits granted in June 2026.
| Status | COE (first application) | Change of status | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer / Humanities / International Services | 51.4 days | 56.8 days | 41.7 days |
| Intra-company Transferee | 46.1 days | 37.0 days | 43.1 days |
| Skilled Labor | 97.1 days | 28.6 days | 32.5 days |
| Specified Skilled Worker (i) | 68.2 days | 63.0 days | 45.9 days |
| Dependent (family) | 68.7 days | 41.6 days | 38.2 days |
| Business Manager | 212.3 days | 199.6 days | 46.8 days |
Two practical lessons. First, add the embassy step and travel, and a realistic total for an Engineer file is about 2 to 3 months from filing to arrival. Second, timing matters: Japanese companies hire for 1 April, so applications pile up in late winter and spring and the averages stretch. Category 1 and 2 employers are usually processed faster than start-ups, simply because their file is thinner. Note that a renewal now takes about six weeks on average, well over the official two weeks to one month.
Japan work visa cost in 2026: embassy fee and immigration fees
Two fee increases in 2026 made older guides obsolete. Dollar amounts below use the rate of ¥159.80 to $1 on 14 November 2026.
Visa fee at the embassy or consulate
Since 1 July 2026 a single-entry visa costs ¥15,000 (about $94) and a multiple-entry visa ¥30,000 (about $188), up from ¥3,000 and ¥6,000, the first increase since 1978. Each embassy converts the amount into local currency and some nationalities are exempt under reciprocity agreements.
| Where you apply | Single entry | Multiple entry |
|---|---|---|
| US citizens | No fee | No fee |
| Other nationalities applying in the US | $101 | $201 |
| UK citizens applying in the UK | £77 | £154 |
| Canada, Australia, EU | ¥15,000 converted locally | ¥30,000 converted locally |
The dollar and pound amounts and the exemption for US citizens are those listed by the consulates in July 2026. The US dollar amounts apply to applications lodged until 31 March 2027, and several consulates take cash only. Confirm the figure and any exemption on the website of the embassy or consulate where you apply before you go.
Renewal and change of status fees since 1 October 2026
Inside Japan, the flat ¥6,000 fee is gone. For applications received from 1 October 2026, the fee depends on the period of stay you are granted, not the one you asked for, and filing online is cheaper than going to the counter.
| Period granted | At the counter | Online |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months or less | ¥10,000 ($63) | ¥10,000 ($63) |
| Over 3 months, up to 6 months | ¥18,000 ($113) | ¥15,000 ($94) |
| Over 6 months, under 1 year | ¥25,000 ($156) | ¥21,000 ($131) |
| 1 year | ¥33,000 ($207) | ¥27,000 ($169) |
| Over 1 year, under 3 years | ¥48,000 ($300) | ¥42,000 ($263) |
| 3 years, under 5 years | ¥64,000 ($401) | ¥56,000 ($350) |
| 5 years | ¥75,000 ($469) | ¥65,000 ($407) |
| Permanent residence | ¥200,000 ($1,252) | Counter only |
Online payments carry a handling charge of ¥330 (¥550 for periods of 3 years or more). At the counter you pay with revenue stamps bought in cash. Online, you pay at a convenience store or by bank transfer, and cards are not accepted. The re-entry permit (¥3,500 single, ¥6,500 multiple) did not change.
Most employers file the COE themselves or through their own immigration lawyer at no cost to you. If you hire one privately, Tokyo firms quote roughly ¥100,000 to ¥300,000 ($630 to $1,880) for a first application and ¥50,000 to ¥150,000 for a renewal.
How long a Japan work visa lasts and how to renew it
A work status is granted for 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months. You do not choose. Immigration decides on the length of your contract, your record in Japan (taxes, pension and health insurance paid, notifications filed on time) and the size and results of the employer. A first status with a small company is often 1 year, and longer periods follow once your record is clean. There is no cap on the number of renewals, except for SSW (i).
You can file the renewal from 3 months before the expiry date, at the regional immigration bureau for your address or online. For category 3 and 4 employers, expect to add your resident tax certificate and proof of tax payment for the past year. If you arrived after 1 January and have no certificate yet, a letter of explanation with payslips is accepted. Unpaid resident tax, pension or health insurance premiums are the most common reason for a shorter period, so keep the receipts described in our guides to tax in Japan for foreigners and health insurance.
Changing employer on a Japan work visa
You can change jobs without a new visa as long as the new role fits the same status, for example from one software company to another. Your obligation is to file a notification about your contracting organisation within 14 days of leaving the old employer and again within 14 days of joining the new one. It is free and can be done online through the immigration electronic notification system, by post or at the counter. Renewing a contract with the same employer needs no notification.
The risk comes later. Immigration only reviews the new job at your next renewal, and if it judges that the role does not fit your status, the renewal can fail. To avoid that, you can ask for a Certificate of Authorized Employment. It is optional, costs ¥1,600 (about $10) and confirms in writing that the new job is covered. It is worth the trip when the new position is in a different field from your degree or when your renewal is more than a few months away.
Two limits to keep in mind. If the new work belongs to another status, say an engineer who becomes a chef or starts a company, you need a change of status before you start. And a work status can be revoked when its holder has not done the authorised activity for 3 months without a valid reason, so do not let a gap between jobs drift. Our page on finding jobs in Japan as a foreigner lists the recruiters and job boards that hire visa holders already in the country.
Bringing your family to Japan: the Dependent visa
Holders of a work status, SSW (i) excepted, can bring a legally married spouse and children under the Dependent status. The file contains the marriage or birth certificate, a copy of your residence card or passport, and proof of your job and income, because you must show you can support them. The family can apply for their own COE at the same time as yours or join you later. The period of stay is set case by case, up to 5 years, and usually follows yours.
A dependent may not work by default. With the permission to engage in other activities, requested free of charge at immigration and printed on the back of the residence card, a spouse can work up to 28 hours a week. The limit is checked over any seven consecutive days, not from Monday to Sunday, and it covers all jobs combined. Work in bars, clubs and other adult entertainment venues is excluded. A spouse who wants a full-time job needs a work status of their own, or the more generous rules attached to a Highly Skilled Professional.
From a Japan work visa to permanent residency
Time on a work status counts towards permanent residency. The standard rule is 10 years of continuous residence, including at least 5 years on a work status. Highly Skilled Professionals, and anyone who can show they would have scored the points, qualify after 3 years with 70 points or 1 year with 80 points.
The bar was raised in 2026. The fee went from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000 (about $1,252) on 1 October, and the average decision took around nine months in June 2026. Revised guidelines that took effect the same day, as reported by immigration law firms and the Japanese press, add a household income test, proof of Japanese at about B1 level (waived for Highly Skilled Professionals) and closer scrutiny of late tax and social insurance payments. They also penalise long absences: a single stay abroad of six months or more can reset the clock. From April 2027, permanent residency can be revoked for deliberate non-payment of taxes or premiums.
The practical advice from your first year is simple: pay resident tax, pension and health insurance on time, keep every receipt, and file your notifications within 14 days. The full conditions and document list are in our guide to permanent residency in Japan.